Trail Conditions: Snow and Ice

The trail was bare and wet with snow and ice in places.

And, we rode it with our drop-bar MTBs. I was riding the brown bike and Steve his CO-OP test mule. Looking for a new connector to the Iron Horse Trail, we also experimented with tire pressure. It’s remarkable how a couple PSI can drastically change handling characteristics.

For the conditions, the 28 PSI I set the WTB Nano‘s ($62.95 on Amazon) at was too high and the raised, center ridge knobby pattern acted like a skate on ice. I’m not an ice skater, so instantly went down on an ice patch that covered the trail. It was fed by a stream and very uneven. Also quite hard…..

Knowing that in temps below 32, I’d get cold and stiffen up quick, we kept riding until the first front of a storm that later shut down the pass nearly blew of us the trail.

Across the next patch of patchy snow and ice, I clipped out and cleared it. I ending the ride, a bit banged up, but with a knowledge of new trail system to explore

I’ll swap the Nano’s out for the Horizons ($60.00 on Amazon) before we ride it again.